New nursery rooms open at Holy Trinity Academy, Oswestry

Holy Trinity Academy in Oswestry has opened the doors to its brand-new nursery rooms — Ladybirds and Bumblebees — marking a significant milestone in the school’s ongoing commitment to supporting the youngest children in the local community.

Thanks to funding from the Department for Education’s School-Based Nursery Grant, the Academy has expanded its early years provision to now include babies from nine months and over, alongside two-year-old children. This development allows the school to offer continuous, high-quality care and education from infancy through to the end of the primary phase, ensuring children experience a smooth and nurturing start to their learning journey.

The grand opening was attended by Sue Lovelock, Regional Director for the West Midlands at the Department for Education, and Gill Hamer, Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Shropshire. They were joined by representatives from St Chad’s Academies Trust, Shropshire Council, the Church, governors, and members of the school and nursery teams, who have worked tirelessly over the past year to bring the project to fruition

The new nursery rooms have been thoughtfully designed to create calm, engaging, and age-appropriate learning environments, enabling children to explore, discover, and develop their independence. Each space includes areas dedicated to sensory play, language development, and outdoor learning — all supported by highly qualified and caring early years practitioners.

Executive principal, Laura Hopley expressed her pride in the achievement and the dedication of her team. She said:

“This project has been twelve months in the making and represents a real investment in our community’s future. The Ladybirds and Bumblebees rooms will provide a safe, inspiring and nurturing environment where children can take their very first steps into education. We hope this provision will become a beacon of hope and opportunity for families across Oswestry and the surrounding areas.”

“We are deeply grateful to the Department for Education for their support through the School-Based Nursery Grant, and to St Chad’s Academies Trust for their guidance and encouragement throughout this process. This has truly been a team effort, reflecting the shared vision and commitment of everyone involved.” Andy Hall, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, praised the school’s vision. He said: “It is fantastic to see how this funding has been used to expand early years provision in such a meaningful way. The team at Holy Trinity Academy have created something special that will have a lasting impact on children and families in the area.”

The opening of Ladybirds and Bumblebees marks a new chapter for Holy Trinity Academy and St Chad’s Academies Trust, reinforcing their joint mission to provide inclusive, high-quality education from the earliest stages. The provision also supports working parents in Oswestry by offering flexible, affordable childcare within a trusted school setting.

The Academy’s early years team will continue to work closely with families to ensure every child is supported to reach their full potential — socially, emotionally, and academically — from the very start of their learning journey.

Credit – Shropshire Council